LAST Rockport Farmers' Market of the 2013 Season is Tomorrow!

Well, it's been a great three months for the first season of the new Rockport Farmers' Market, but like all good things, it is coming to an end. For this year at least. Tomorrow, September 7th, is the final summer Farmers' Market for this year.

So be sure to stop by to load up on your delicious market goods! Fresh, organic produce, cheese, savory jams, pickles, baked goods, fresh pasta, fresh pesto, focaccia, honey, eggs, grass-fed beef, maple syrup, Twin Lights soda and much, much more...

Come visit Buddy from First Light Farm tomorrow! photo: Heather Atwood

Git yer Twin Light soda at tomorrow's Farmers' Market. Rockport's own locally-made soda!

A fresh focaccia sandwich from Prides Osteria. Photo: Heather Atwood

But never fear: you can still get fresh, local food at the wonderful Cape Ann Farmers' Market, which is still going strong on Thursdays from 3:30 to 6:30 in Gloucester. And if you miss some of your favorite Rockport Farmers' Market vendors, you will see them again very soon at Rockport's Harvestfest, taking place on Saturday, October 19th.

Spring Fling-ers Party On!

photos courtesy of David Cutler

A big thanks to those of you who came out last night, drank some tonic, ate a delicious organic cupcake or charming Motif cookie and greeted your friends and neighbors after a long, cold winter. You were also generous in your support of your hometown festivals: Motif No. 1 Day & the Rockport HarvestFest, as all donations from last night's party went to programming for Rockport's events.  An especially big thank you to Rockport's Dylan Azucena for creating a fantastic playlist, Nina Samoiloff & Sue Andersen for their tasty and beautiful baked goods, James Theophanis Construction for the small-scale Motif (a big hit with everyone old & young) and Pierce Wilson of Twin Lights Beverage Co. for donating the tonic. The refurbished Community House is a great place to come together and we look forward to more good times in this historic building.

Last night we revealed the 2011 Motif No. 1 Day poster, with design by Darren Mason of Merge3 Creative and artwork by Sarah Elizabeth Holloran, a Folly Cove designer, whose designs are still sold by Isabel Natti (along with Ms. Natti's own designs) of the Sarah Elizabeth shop in Rockport.

Put On Your Dancin' Shoes!

Rockport Festivals is excited to announce our first community event of 2011. We are kicking off the season with our Spring Fling, a Community Dance for all ages at Rockport's beautiful & newly restored Community House. We think it's a great way to bring Rockporters (and anyone else who wants to come) together for an evening of tunes, dancing, Twin Lights soda, and cupcakes.  What could be better than that? Now don't panic if you aren't much of a dancer - some people (on our own Festivals Committee no less) are too shy, or dignified, or whatever, to bust a move in public. That's okay. You can stand on the perimeter of the dance floor and roll your eyes - just as long as you come.

Thursday, April 14th

6 to 9 pm

Rockport Community House

on Broadway in Rockport

While this event is a fundraiser for the programming we do for the town's festivals, Motif No. 1 Day and HarvestFest, we want everyone to be able to come, so admission is "Pay-What-You-Can", and you can make your donation right at the door - no advance purchase necessary.

A few more highlights of the evening? Our Motif No. 1 Photo Booth. Yes, that's right. We're bringing the Motif indoors just for the evening, so don't miss this chance to get your photo taken with Rockport's famous icon. And finally, we're revealing our commemorative Motif No. 1 Day poster the night of the dance. This is the 4th poster in our annual series of Motif No.1 Day posters featuring the work of Rockport artists. These pieces are highly collectible, produced in a limited run.

We look forward to seeing our Cape Ann friends and neighbors, shop keepers and inn keepers, gallery owners and restauranteers, professionals and families -- everyone! -- on April 14th. Just e-mail us at rockportfestivals@gmail.com with any questions.

See you there!

Tonight's Kickoff! Music, Food & Film

6:00 pm

Harvest Community Picnic accompanied by the Polygroove Orchestra. Bring a dish celebrating the bounty of the season.  (And don't forget the tableware!)  The Picnic is under the huge tent on T-Wharf.

8:00 pm

A screening of the film Fresh at the Old Firehouse Trust building, just around the corner from T-Wharf.  Check it out here.  Fresh is an upbeat documentary about the exciting new developments in the way we eat as small farms make a comeback across America.  And speaking of eating locally-produced food, it doesn't get more local than Twin Lights Soda,  which will be provided at the screening courtesy of Pierce Sears, proprietor of Twin Lights.

Motif No. 1 Day Kickoff on Friday, May 21st!

Don't miss the debut of archival film footage of Rockport, from the private collection of Pierce Wilson and produced by Phil Hopkins of Dogtown Productions. Enjoy some classic Twin Lights soda and images of Rockport from days past! E-mail us for more information: rockportfestivals@gmail.com.